IPL 2025: BCCI Leave it up to Captains on Decision to Lift Ban on Applying Saliva on Ball - Report

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly left the call to lift the ban on applying saliva on the ball to the team captains ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season 18.

According to report in PTI, the proposal, which could have a global impact, has been discussed at length internally within the BCCI and will be floated to captains of all IPL teams in a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday (March 20).

All the 10 IPL teams captains will meet at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai for the the customary captains' meeting and photoshoot. During this meet, the cricket governing body is likely to discuss about the topic of lifting the ban on applying saliva on the ball during IPL 2025.

When and why was applying saliva on ball to shine banned?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the players to only use sweat to shine the ball across formats.

In 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent. The IPL too included the ICC ban in its playing conditions in the aftermath of the pandemic but its guidelines are outside the purview of the sport's governing body.

"Using saliva on the ball was part of the essence of the game until COVID hit. Now that we don't have that threat anymore, we feel there is no harm in lifting the ban on saliva in the IPL," a top BCCI official told PTI.

"We understand that it makes a bigger impact in red ball cricket but even if it can help bowlers a bit in the white ball game, it should be allowed in the IPL, which is a trend setting tournament. Let's see what the captains decide tomorrow."

Shami's plea gets backing

If the ban is revoked in the IPL, the ICC too might be forced to review its stance on the subject. Recently, during the ICC Champions Trophy, senior India pacer Mohammed Shami had spoken about the need to use saliva on the ball in what has become a predominantly batters' game. The likes of Vernon Philander and Tim Southee had backed Shami's call.

"We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting," Shami had said during the 50-over event in Dubai, where India emerged victorious.

What is the existing rule if player is caught applying saliva on the ball?

As per the existing rules in the Indian Premier League, "if it is a first instance of applying saliva on the ball, the fielding team's captain is summoned and issued a first warning.

"If it is the second instance during an innings, summon the captain of the fielding side and issue a second and final warning to the captain of the fielding side that any further such offence by any member of the team during the innings shall result in that member of the team being fined by BCCI.

"If it is the third or subsequent instance inform the player who has applied saliva to the ball on that occasion that he is subject to a fine, payable to BCCI, of the lesser of 10 lakh or 25% of his match fee," states last year's IPL playing conditions.